Vacuum-tube socket



May 13; 1930. H. J. WIEGAND 'VACUUM TUBE SOCKET Filed Sept. 10, 1-926 v INlfENTOR. .73)

ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1930 v UNITED STATES PATENT, oFF1ca" I HENRY J. WIEGAND, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESFI'E ASSIGN-.

MEETS, T0 CUTLER-HAMMER, INQ, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 01 DELAWARE VACUUM-TUBE SOCKET Application filed September 10, 1926. Serial a... 134,697.

form of contact for devices of the aforementioned character.

Another object is to provide an improved form' of vacuum tube socket which is particularly adapted for rear of board mounting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

' The accompanying drawing illustrates certain embodiments of the invention which will now be described, it being understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a top plan view.

of a vacuum tube socket constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof on the broken line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view ofthe device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a modified form of socket embodying my invention; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the socket as shown comprises a molded insulating base 10 having a substantially circular projection 11 adapted to fit a correspondingly shaped opening 12 in a panel board 13 (Fig. 2). The top surface 14 of base 10 is provided with a pair of flat raised portions 15 adapted to provide for two-point engagement of the base with the rear surface of panel 13 thereby preventing possible splitting or breaking of the base due to warping or other inequalities in the top surface of the latter. Portions 15 are so arranged as to provide for substantially flush positioning of projection 11 with respect to the upper surface of panel board 13.

Base 10 is provided with suitable openings 16 in alinement with portions 15 whereby said base may be secured to the panel board by means of screws 17 as illustrated at the lefthand side of Fig. 2. Washers 18 are preferably provided at the head ends of the screws 17, whereas nuts 19 cooperate with said screws to clamp the base 10 in position. The bottom portion of base 10 is provided with a depression or cavity 20 adapted to house the contact clips 21. Said contact clips 21 are composed of a suitable metal such as phospho'r bronze and are each provided with a straight securing portion 26 and a reflexed inner end portion. The end portion 22 of each contact clip 21 extends into a perpendicular slot 23 in base 10. The walls 24 of slot 23 maintain the contact clips 21 in their IQSMBCtlVG positions.

ontact clips 21 may be perforated as indicated at 25 prior to forming thereof, said perforations tending to facilitate the bending operation while providing increased flexibility of the contact portions of the clips. The

straight portions 26 of contact clips 21 are respectively provided with tapped openings 27 to provide for securing the same to the base ceive the screw heads and lock washers 30 aforementioned. Projection 11 is also provided with a plurality of openings 33 and 34 adapted to receive the prongs of a vacuum tube. 1 Openings 33 are relatively larger than openings 34 to accommodate the larger prongs of a tube (not shown) whereby proper connection of the vacuum tube elements with respect to the contact clips is insured. Due to the form of the contact clips proper wiping Y engagement thereof with the tube prongs is provided for, whereas fouling of said clips is insured against at all times.

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate a slightly modified form of tube socket, the latter being particularly adapted for surface mounting on the panel. The molded-insulating base member 40 is provided with a substantially frustoconical extension or projection 41, the same being providedinteriorly thereof with a cor-v respondingly shaped cavity42. The projection 41 is also provided with a plurality of lateral slots 43 adapted to receive the resilient contact clips 44. The lower side 'of .base' is provided with flat-faced projections 45 (one of which is shown in Fig. 5) to effect twopoint mounting of the base in spaced relation to the panel, said spacing also providing sufficient clearance for the heads of screws as hereinafter described. Openings 47 are provided in base 40 for the reception of suitable attaching screws or bolts, not shown.

As will be noted, the upper surface of base 40 is provided with projections 46, in alinement with projections 45, whereb the socket may be utilized for rear of boar mounting. If the socket is mounted in the manner lastmentioned screws 50 are reversed, so that nuts o "51 and 53 thereof will be located on the opposite or lower side of the base.

The contact cli s are formed of a strip of resilient metal of substantially L-shape and each includesa substantially semicircular reflexed portion 48 at the upperend thereof.

Base 40 is provided with openings 49 to receive the contact securing screws 50. Said screws 50 are provided with nuts 51 to clamp the contact clips 44 in position. Said'clips are also provided with small wire receiving openings 52 for eifecting proper circuit connections. Lock nuts 53, on screws 50 provide alternative means for connecting the lead wires (not shown) to the contacts. The upper surface of projection 41 is provided with a plurality of openings 54 and 55 of the character described in connection with Figs. 1 to 3. Upon insertion of the vacuum tube prongs in proper relation with respect to openings 54 and 55 said prongs engage the curved or reflexed portions 48 of the contact clips 44, whereas the latter are -maybe free to move outwardly under the pressure imposed thereon. Upon removal of the vacuum tube prongs said clips move inwardly to the normal position illustrated, excessive inward movement being prevented by engagement of the portions 56 of the clips with the surfaces 57 of the slots 43 in base 40. The manner of assembling the parts in the several formsof my invention will be ag; parent to those skilled in the art. It may noted, however, that in each of the forms illustrated the' contact clips are secured to the base in a manner to normally provide a slight tension in the contact portions thereof. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that contacts of the character herein disclosed are likewise peculiarly adapted for use by direct mounting thereo on an insulat-' ing panel or like support, whereby the necessity for a separate insulating base. or socket obviated. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

contact clips having straight portions se-.

cured to the lower surface of said base, said -base having a plurality of radial slots, said clipshavingupwardly extending reflexed portions adapted to be positioned by said slots,

said reflex portions of said clips being normally biased across the openings in said base, means for limiting themovement of said reflexed portions under the action of said bias,

said means comprising lugs or projections on said reflexed portions, and shoulders formed by said slots with which said lugs are adapted to engage, said lugs being movable out of engagement with said shoulders and against said bias upon engagement of said reflexed portiJoAns by the prongs of a vacuum tube.

2. molded insulating base having a circular projection adapted to fit a correspondingly shaped opening in a panel, means for securing said base to the inner surface of said panel whereby the up er surface of said projection will be substantially flush with the outer surface of said panel, said base having a plurality of openings adapted to receive predetermined prongs of a vacuum tube, a plurality of radial slots in the under surface of said base, re-

openings by the resiliency of said bias. 7

p 3. A vacuum tube support comprising a molded insulating base having a circular projection adapted to fit a correspondingly shaped opening in a panel, means for securing said base to the inner surface of said panel whereby the upper surface of said projection will be substantially flush with the outer surface of said panel, said base having a plurality of openings adapted to receive predetermined prongs of a vacuum tube, a plurality of radial 7 said base, resilientcontact clips having straight portions secured to said under surface of said base and upwardly extending curved reflexed portions adapted to be pos1- tioned by said slots, said curved portions be ing normally biased across said openings by the resiliency of said clips, means for limiting the movement of said portions under the action ofsaid bias, said means comprising lugs or projections portions being normally.

Vacuum tube supportcomprising a.

slots in the under surface of.

and means for limiting the on said curved pertions, and shoulders formed on said base by said slots with which said lugs are adapted to engage.

4. A vacuum tube support comprising a molded insulating base having a circular projection adapted to fit a correspondingly shaped opening in a panel, means for securing said base to the inner surface of said panel whereby the upper surface of said projection will be substantially flush with the outer surface of said panel, said base having a plurality of openings adapted to receive predetermined prongs of a vacuum tube, a plurality of radial slots in the under surface of said base, resilient contact clips having straight portions secured to said under surface of said base and upwardly extending curved reflexed portions adapted to be positioned by said slots, said curved portions being normally biased across said openings, means for limiting the movement of said portions under the action of said bias, said means comprising lugs or projections on said curved portions, and shoulders formed by said slots with which said lugs are adapted to engage,

said curved portions being movable out of engagement with said shoulders and against said bias by the prongs of a vacuum tube.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

HENRY J. WIEGAND 

